News
Duncan Lewis Client has Interim Relief Granted by European Court of Human Rights (10 August 2018)
In Chowdhury v United Kingdom, under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has decided to indicate to the Government of the United Kingdom that the Applicant should not be removed for the duration of the proceedings before the Court. Read more...
Duncan Lewis successfully challenges the SSHD’s unlawful detention of victim of re-trafficking (6 August 2018)
In CP (Vietnam) v Secretary of State for the Home Department the High Court ruled in favour of the Claimant, concluding that the Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD) had breached the Claimant’s protective obligations under Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights and detained him unlawfully. Read more...
Naim Hasani Shortlisted for Human Rights Lawyer of the Year at Law Society Excellence Awards 2018 (3 August 2018)
We are delighted to announce that Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Naim Hasani has been shortlisted for the Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award at the 2018 Law Society Excellence Awards. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors commitment to Diversity & Inclusion (3 August 2018)
We are pleased to announce that Duncan Lewis is a finalist for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion in anticipation of the Law Society Excellence Awards 2018. Read more...
Ahmed Aydeed Shortlisted for Human Rights Lawyer of the Year at Law Society Excellence Awards (3 August 2018)
We are thrilled to announce that Duncan Lewis’ Ahmed Aydeed has been shortlisted for the coveted Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award at the 2018 Law Society Excellence Awards. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors shortlisted for 6 awards at The Law Society Excellence Awards 2018 (1 August 2018)
We are pleased to announce that Duncan Lewis have been shortlisted for 6 awards, in anticipation of the 12th annual Law Society Excellence Awards 2018. The event will be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane on 17th October 2018, where it will celebrate the best in the legal sector in 22 highly competitive categories. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors Successful in First Ever FGM Case heard in the Court of Appeal (31 July 2018)
The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal in the High Court case: X (A Child) (Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order: Restrictions on Travel) [2017] EWHC 2898 (Fam). The case - the first ever FGM case to be heard in the Court of Appeal - in which a 16 year travel ban was imposed on a child ‘X’, due to concerns that X was at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), will be remitted for a full re-hearing of all relevant issues, to a Judge of the Family Division. Read more...
Reducing the Statutory Charge – the lessons of Hana Zewdu v. The Director of Legal Aid Casework [CO/81/2018] (27 July 2018)
Following the filing of judicial review proceedings in the Administrative Court of Justice on 19 December 2017, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) agreed to pay the Claimant, the full costs of challenging the LAA’s original decision to revoke the Claimant’s public funding certificate, during the course of the Claimant’s prior successful judicial review proceedings against the Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD). Read more...
Director of Childcare, Alia Lewis advises on the BBC soap opera, ‘Doctors’ (24 July 2018)
Director of Childcare, Alia Lewis advised on an episode of ‘Doctors,’ providing expert legal advice for a storyline involving a transgender child. The show, ‘Doctors’ is a medical drama following the lives of medical staff of a doctors surgery and the circumstances of patients who are treated at the surgery. The episode, ‘He says, She says’; season 19 episode 193, originally aired on 10th April 2018. Read more...
R (on the application of Muhammad Rehman) v (1) Secretary of State for Justice and (2) Secretary of State for the Home Department (24 July 2018)
The Public Law team at Duncan Lewis have issued Judicial Review proceedings on behalf of the Claimant who was held under immigration powers in prison. Read more...
Public Law Solicitor Lewis Kett Wins Legal Aid Newcomer at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2018 (18 July 2018)
Duncan Lewis is pleased to congratulate Lewis Kett, a solicitor in the Public Law department, on his award for Legal Aid Newcomer at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) Awards. The Legal Aid Newcomer Award exists to recognise the young legal aid lawyers aspiring to be the future leaders in this practice. Read more...
Duncan Lewis assisting the Calais Refugee Community Kitchen (11 July 2018)
On 6th May 2018, a group of legal representatives from the Duncan Lewis Luton office embarked on a journey to Calais, France, with the hope of putting our skills into action to help a charity called Refugee Community Kitchen operating on ground in Calais. Read more...
Duncan Lewis appoints Alex Peebles as Director in Public Law and Court of Protection (6 July 2018)
Duncan Lewis are very pleased to announce that Solicitor Alex Peebles has recently been appointed as a Director of Public Law and Court of Protection. Since Alex joined Duncan Lewis in April 2017, he has become a prominent presence in the legal fields of Court of Protection, Regulatory law and in Civil Liberties & Human Rights, whilst supporting the growth and development of the respective departments overall. With 10 years’ PQE in a wide range of Public Law matters, Alex is experienced in handling matters in the tax tribunal, High Court, Court of Appeal, European Court of Human Rights and Court of Protection. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Public Law & Immigration Director Bahar Ata is a finalist for the Legal Expert Award at the CILEx National Awards 2018 (5 July 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is proud to announce that Public Law and Immigration Director, Bahar Ata, has been selected as a finalist for the Legal Expert Award at the CILEx National Awards 2018. The awards ceremony will be presented on the 6th September 2018 at the stunning Underglobe, Shakespeare Globe Theatre, London. The CILEx National Awards Ceremony will showcase and celebrate the excellent work, and achievements, of CILEx members and stakeholder partners. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors challenges the Legal Aid Agency’s rules on backdating of funding (5 July 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors have been granted permission in a claim for judicial review to challenge the lawfulness of the Civil Legal Aid (Procedure) Regulations 2012, (the Procedure Regulations), and the Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) interpretation of these regulations.The LAA’s position is that the Procedure Regulations do not allow it to make legal aid payments for work undertaken before it grants funding. The effect of this contention is that legal aid providers are not reimbursed for work properly undertaken on an emergency basis before the LAA is able to consider an application and grant funding. Another potential effect is that legal aid providers simply will not carry out this work, as they cannot be reimbursed for it by the LAA. Read more...
Senior caseworker Patrick Page speaks at Parliament following screening of ‘Calais Children: A Case to Answer’ (2 July 2018)
On 27 June, Patrick Page, a senior caseworker in the public law department at Duncan Lewis spoke at Parliament about his experience advising and assisting children in the Calais ‘Jungle’ on their applications to come to the UK under the ‘Dubs Amendment’. After the screening of ‘Calais Children: A Case to Answer’, Patrick remembered how, when he and his colleagues spent time in the Jungle, the children they spoke to were ‘trying’ every night to board lorries, risking their lives to enter the UK; some had been trying for over a year and had bruises and cuts to show for it. Conversely, when Patrick and his team returned to the UK, they were required only to show their passports to the border guards, and half an hour later they were in Dover. He concluded that until countries like the UK opened their borders, tens of thousands of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children would continue to remain in limbo, vulnerable to exploitation. Read more...
Permission to Appeal granted by Court of Appeal in TM (Kenya) (28 June 2018)
The Court of Appeal has granted permission to appeal in the case of TM (Kenya) v SSHD (C4/2017/3270), which challenges the High Court judgment in Muasa v SSHD [2017] EWHC 2267 insofar as it found against the Claimant. Read more...
Duncan Lewis 20th Anniversary Ball (27 June 2018)
We’re extremely proud to announce that Duncan Lewis has reached an important milestone as we celebrated our 20 year anniversary on Friday 11th May. The event was to commend our CEO, Shany Gupta, Managing Director, Nina Joshi and our entire workforce on reaching 20 years. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitor Javeria Ijaz shortlisted for Rising Star in Law Award at 7th English Asian Business Awards 2018 (26 June 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is proud to announce that Immigration solicitor, Javeria Ijaz, has been shortlisted for the Rising Star in Law award at the 7th English Asian Business Awards 2018. The awards ceremony will be presented on the 17th of July at the Mercure Manchester, Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester. These awards aim to celebrate and showcase the achievements of Asian men and woman who greatly contribute to their industries. Read more...
Patrick Page, senior caseworker in public law at Duncan Lewis, speaks at conferences at SOAS and at the Open University (26 June 2018)
On 19th June, Patrick Page, a Senior Caseworker in the Public Law team in Harrow spoke on the keynote panel at a SOAS conference on ‘Empathy in Practice’. He shared the panel with Juliet Mabey, the founder of Oneworld Publications, and David Francis, a PhD student at the British Museum. Patrick spoke about his work exposing the indignity of immigration detention, and criticised the lack of empathy shown by detention officers, Home Office caseworkers and national leaders towards those who are detained. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Family and Childcare team attend advice drop-in at the West Hill Children’s Centre (25 June 2018)
Once a fortnight a volunteer caseworker from our Croydon office attends the West Hill Children’s Centre for appointments with parents, carers and other individuals seeking legal advice. Read more...
Money Laundering - The case of ‘O’ (22 June 2018)
O was charged with an offence often described as ‘money laundering’, and faced an indictment before the Woolwich Crown Court. A retrial was required, an unusual event, which can often occur where a jury remain undecided on a person’s guilt. Read more...
Pre Issued Settlement – The Case of D (22 June 2018)
This case concerns a defendant D, who had been remanded in prison custody for 4½ months without lawful authority. D was arrested for breaching a non-molestation order, imposed by a County Court. He was taken to the Court in the custody of police officers, and appeared before a district judge without having had access to legal advice. The judge subjected him to questioning and remanded him to prison, directing that either the police or prison officers brought D back to Court in seven days to conclude his case. Neither the Court, police, or prison made arrangements to have D returned to Court. The detaining authorities then subsequently failed to review his custody, forcing D to remain in custody for 4 ½ months. Read more...
Grenfell: One Year On (14 June 2018)
A year has passed since the Grenfell Tower tragedy that took the lives of 72 people and destroyed the lives of hundreds of others in what would become the UK’s worst fire disaster. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Welcome New Director of Family and Childcare Sara Upton (14 June 2018)
We are pleased to announce that Sara Upton has joined Duncan Lewis as a Director in the Family and Childcare department. She will supervise a team of solicitors, trainees and caseworkers alongside Director Sheena Donlon based at our office in Barnet. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors attend tribunal verdict on Turkey and the Kurds (11 June 2018)
Members of the public law team at Duncan Lewis recently attended the reading of a verdict of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT) on Turkey and the Kurds. Delivered on 24 May in the European Parliament, the PPT found Erdogan and the Turkish state guilty of war crimes, and crimes against humanity against the Kurdish people. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Public Law Team talk at Oxford University (30 May 2018)
On 17 May, Patrick Page and Nicholas Hughes of the Harrow Public Law Team, spoke to students at Oxford University about challenging unlawful policies and practices in immigration detention. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors challenge R (Rahimi & Bahadori) v SSHD prompts new Chapter 60 removals policy (24 May 2018)
Yesterday (23rd May 2018) the Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD) published amendments to his removals policy (at Chapter 60 of his Enforcement Guidance and Instructions, titled ‘Judicial Review and injunctions’) in direct response to proceedings issued by Duncan Lewis Solicitors on 28th November 2017. The changes reflect concessions made in April this year by the SSHD in the course of these proceedings. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Represent Child Slavery Victim in Claim Against Home Office After Sexual Assault at Morton Hall IRC (10 May 2018)
H was trafficked to the UK from Vietnam as a child. He was taken captive in Ho Chi Minh City by his traffickers aged 15. He was tortured, raped and forced into debt bondage. He was beaten with electrified sticks and burned with heated rods. He was then trafficked to the U.K, deliberately starved, deprived of his liberty, and forced to tend cannabis plants in Derbyshire. Read more...
Home Office Issues New Guidance Stating That Asylum Seekers And Care Leavers Must Be Permitted To Study (10 May 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors and Garden Court Chambers represent a number of young asylum-seekers who were told by the Home Office that they cannot study. In some cases, we have obtained last minute court orders allowing individual clients to study and sit exams. Read more...
Playing 2 Remember (that we’re still not very good) (9 May 2018)
The highlight of the sporting calendar has been and gone again. Duncan Lewis Solicitors participated in the London Play 2 Remember Tournament on 15 April 2018, to commemorate victims of genocide and support its survivors as well as promote togetherness through sport. Read more...
Ahmed Aydeed of Duncan Lewis speaks at Victims of Modern Slavery and Trafficking event at Matrix Chambers (9 May 2018)
Ahmed Aydeed, a solicitor and director at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, was invited to appear on the panel at Matrix Chambers on the 25 April 2018 to discuss modern slavery and trafficking in the UK. Read more...
Public Law Solicitor Lewis Kett is shortlisted for Legal Aid Newcomer at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2018 (3 May 2018)
Duncan Lewis is pleased to announce that Public Law Solicitor Lewis Kett has been shortlisted for Legal Aid Newcomer at the forthcoming Legal Aid Practitioners Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) Awards. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors Public Law Department launches ‘No Walls’ blog (2 May 2018)
The Duncan Lewis Solicitors Public Law Department has launched ‘No Walls’, an open forum dedicated to discussions on public law, human rights, immigration, and asylum. Read more...
Asylum Seekers Prohibited From Studying By New Home Office Bail Restrictions (1 May 2018)
In January, the Home Office made changes to temporary admission and immigration bail. As a result, individuals have been issued new Bail 201 forms setting out immigration bail conditions. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors client promised life-saving cancer treatment in high-profile case (25 April 2018)
On 24 April 2018, the Royal Marsden Hospital finally committed to giving Duncan Lewis’ client Albert Thompson the radiotherapy treatment that he requires to treat his prostate cancer; however the NHS Charging Regulations remain unlawful. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Shortlisted for Pro Bono Initiative of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2018 (24 April 2018)
We are pleased to announce that Duncan Lewis has been shortlisted for Pro Bono Initiative of the Year at the 2018 Lawyer Awards! The Lawyer Awards reward best practices and celebrate excellence across the legal profession, making the awards ceremony one of the biggest nights on the legal calendar. Read more...
Duncan Lewis obtains reprieve against removal of foreign national on the basis of possible mistaken identity (17 April 2018)
Howard Cheng, Solicitor of the Immigration and Public Law departments of Duncan Lewis Solicitors, is representing a national of Somalia and has obtained a reprieve against his removal to Hargeisa, from where the Home Office claims he originates. Read more...
Court’s strict approach to FGM imposing 16 year travel ban (13 April 2018)
A recent High Court case imposed a 16 year travel ban on ‘X’, due to concerns that X is at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The girl was born in 2016 to a white English mother and an Egyptian father. The father who currently resides in Egypt has been unable to join the mother and X in the UK because of issues with acquiring a visa. Read more...
Lawyers from Duncan Lewis Public Law Department attend tribunal on Turkey and the Kurds (12 April 2018)
A group of lawyers specialising in Public Law from Duncan Lewis Solicitors were invited to attend a session of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal on 15 and 16 March. The tribunal looked into accusations that the Turkish state is guilty of war crimes and has engaged in state terrorism against the Kurdish people. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors represented Diplomat’s challenge to the High Court concerning enforcement of orders in light of diplomatic immunity (12 April 2018)
The Child Care team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors represented a Diplomat who entered the UK with her children D, S, E and SL aged between 17 years and 7 years old. All the children are nationals of X. The mother is also national of country X and works as a secretary for the X High Commission. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Update – Injunction Obtained in Relation to Recent IT Security Incident (29 March 2018)
Further to the press release dated 28 March 2018, with reference to Duncan Lewis’ recent IT security incident, we can confirm that on 29 March 2018 we secured a High Court Injunction preventing the use of, publication, communication or disclosure to any other person of any information obtained from Duncan Lewis’ IT Systems. Read more...
Further to the recent IT security incident that we have reported (29 March 2018)
As a precautionary measure; we would advise all of our clients and third parties that if you receive any request for payment via any form of electronic communications such as by email, please do not make any payments until you have spoken with your relevant Fee Earner to validate the request for payment. Read more...
Duncan Lewis IT System (23 March 2018)
Duncan Lewis IT systems were hacked on Friday 23rd March 2018. The discovery was made through the course of Friday morning and our IT Department has been liaising with external IT Forensics since this time to try and ascertain the source and nature of this compromise and impact. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors Gender Pay Announcement (22 March 2018)
The reporting of gender pay revealed the following limitations: a lack of comparison in relation to comparable job roles/title(s), furthermore, the calculations fail to take into account intangible aspects which affect salary such as qualifications, employment experience, performance and personal skills. Read more...
High Court grants permission in complex EEA unlawful detention claim (16 March 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors has been granted permission to proceed with a judicial review challenge against the on-going immigration detention of a vulnerable EEA national detainee. Due to ill health, the detainee has been recognised as an ‘adult at risk’ under the Home Office’s policy guidance. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors recognised for commitment to Pro Bono at the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2018 (16 March 2018)
We are delighted to announce that Refugee Legal Support Athens (RLS) is the winner of the Pro Bono Award at the 2018 LexisNexis Legal Awards. Duncan Lewis Solicitors are proud to be part of Refugee Legal Support Athens (RLS) and to have contributed to their success. Read more...
Duncan Lewis to challenge Home Secretary’s decision not to deport Irish nationals (15 March 2018)
Since 2012, foreign national prisoners who have been serving indeterminate sentences have been able to take advantage of the ‘TERS’ scheme (Tariff Expiry Removal Scheme). This means that most foreign nationals are eligible to be immediately deported home as soon as they complete their tariff, and no longer have to go through the parole process. The scheme is good news for anyone wanting to go home and not have to endure the parole process which has experienced significant delays in recent years. It is particularly beneficial to any foreign national prisoner serving an imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence and ultimately stagnating as they struggle to get access to rehabilitation courses in order to progress. The TERS scheme is in theory open to all foreign nationals. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Free Weekly Advice Clinic continues to provide legal support in Dalston East London (14 March 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors offer a free weekly legal surgery from their Dalston East London office, every Tuesday evening from 17:00 – 19:30. Set up in 2009 by two senior colleagues, the Tuesday evening pro bono Surgery has been able to help the most vulnerable in local communities to access justice when they cannot afford it. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors launches a High Court challenge into the inadequacy of initial health screenings in Immigration Removal Centres (13 March 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors have launched a High Court challenge, on behalf of our client, into the inadequacy of initial health screenings in Immigration Removal Centres, and failures in the Rule 34 and 35 processes. Read more...
Our Immigration Trainee Solicitor Lavinia Wasserman received True Honours Award nomination for her work to end ‘honour’ based violence (13 March 2018)
We are pleased to announce that Immigration Trainee Solicitor Lavinia Wasserman was a finalist at the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO) True Honours Awards 2018. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors: Statement of Apology (22 February 2018)
We recently represented ‘SB’ in his immigration related Court of Appeal matter. We wish to apologise for misrepresenting the facts in SB, this is a case of a last minute attempt to prevent a young man, ‘SB’, from being returned to Afghanistan. While, as the Court of Appeal clarifies, we made these representations ‘honestly and in good faith’, we accept unreservedly the criticism of the judges in this case. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors welcomes Senior Housing Solicitor Ossie Sandalon (21 February 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are pleased to welcome our new Senior Housing Solicitor Ossie Sandalon to the firm. Ossie Sandalon will be joining the Housing department lead by Housing Director Dianne Cowie at our Croydon office. Read more...
Afghan Child Represented by Duncan Lewis Solicitors Challenges Home Office on ‘Dubs Amendment’: High Court hearing 28 February and 1 March 2018 (7 February 2018)
The Public Law team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors are representing an Afghan minor, who lived in the Calais ‘Jungle’, in bringing a challenge against the Secretary of State for the Home Department for failing in her duties under the ‘Dubs Amendment’. The case is due to be heard in the High Court on 28 February and 1 March. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors hires two new Directors - Khadijah Khan and Chinedu Orogbu (7 February 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are pleased to welcome two new Directors to the firm. Khadijah Khan will supervise a team of solicitors and caseworkers within the Litigation department based in Harrow, whilst Chinedu Orogbu will lead in supervising the Housing team at our Dalston office. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Public Law Director Ahmed Aydeed shortlisted for Partner of the Year in the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards 2018 (5 February 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are pleased to congratulate Public Law Director, Ahmed Aydeed as he is named a finalist in the Birmingham Law Society Awards 2018 for Partner of the Year. Since becoming a Director in Duncan Lewis’ Birmingham branch in 2017, Ahmed has proven to be a dedicated and integral leader in the department of Public Law, as recognised in this nomination. Read more...
High Court rules in favour of Duncan Lewis Solicitors challenge to the Home Office’s “lock-in” regime in Brook House IRC (5 February 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Public Law team led a challenge against the Home Office on behalf of two former-detainees, which on 1 February 2018 the High Court ruled in favour of, forcing the Home Office to take responsibility for the unlawful conditions within detention centre Brook House. Read more...
Home Secretary May Be Found to Have Breached Smoking Ban and Discriminated against Muslim detainees in High Court ruling on Conditions at Brook House IRC (31 January 2018)
The High Court judgment, on conditions in immigration detention, is due to be handed down tomorrow, 1 February 2018, at the Royal Court of Justice (court 49). The ruling will discuss whether the Home Office has illegally allowed the smoking ban to be contravened in detention centres. The court will also make a finding on whether the lock-in regime at Brook House IRC, which forces detainees to be locked into their cells for up to 13 hours a day, discriminates against Muslim detainees who are forced to pray next to an open toilet in potentially unsanitary conditions. The challenge was brought by the public law team of Duncan Lewis Solicitors, on behalf of clients detained at Brook House IRC. The cases were heard in the High Court on 23 - 24 January 2018. Read more...
Duncan Lewis launches challenge to Home Secretary’s failure to instigate public inquiry into G4S abuse of detainees at Brook House IRC (29 January 2018)
This month Duncan Lewis Solicitors have launched a High Court challenge, on behalf of our client, into the Home Secretary’s failure to instigate a public inquiry into serious and systemic abuse of detainees by G4S staff at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Immigration Solicitor Javeria Ijaz is a Finalist for Services to Law at the British Muslim Awards 2018 (25 January 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is proud to announce that Immigration solicitor, Javeria Ijaz, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the award for Services to Law at the British Muslim Awards 2018. The awards ceremony will be presented by Al Rayan Bank on 31st January 2018 at the Bradford Hotel in Bradford. These awards aim to acknowledge and honour British Muslims across the UK whose achievements set them out as the best in their industry. Read more...
RLS-Athens legal advice clinic supported by Duncan Lewis Solicitors shortlisted for LexisNexis Pro Bono Award alongside Duncan Lewis Pro Bono Committee (24 January 2018)
Duncan Lewis would like to congratulate The RLS-Athens Project for being shortlisted in the LexisNexis Awards 2018 Pro Bono category, alongside Duncan Lewis’ Pro Bono Committee. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Croydon Housing Department to Hold Fortnightly Pro Bono Advice Clinic from January 22nd 2018 (19 January 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are pleased to announce that its Housing Department based in Croydon will be working in conjunction with Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth to offer fortnightly pro bono advice to those requiring assistance with a wide range of housing related matters. Read more...
R (on the application of SB and Duncan Lewis) Vs Director of the Legal Aid Agency and the Lord Chancellor (12 January 2018)
Duncan Lewis filed a judicial review claim in the Administrative Court to challenge the failure of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) to backdate funding for urgent work properly undertaken. The LAA granted funding on 14 September 2017, which was made available from that date, but the LAA failed to backdate that funding to extend from the date of the initial application made on 12 September 2017. Read more...
Legal 500 Recommended National Law Firm Duncan Lewis Hires New Crime Director Nicholas De Freitas (8 January 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is excited to welcome new Crime Director Nicholas De Freitas, he will be based in the company’s Harrow branch. With 10 years legal experience, Nicolas joins Duncan Lewis from Noble Solicitors as a well-established Criminal Defence solicitor, supervising Harrow’s team of crime caseworkers and solicitors, alongside Crime Director Rubin Italia and Hardeep Dhaliwal. Read more...
Tamana Aziz joins Legal 500 recommended firm Duncan Lewis Solicitors as new Director of Immigration (8 January 2018)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are pleased to announce the recent appointment of Tamana Aziz as a Director of Immigration. She is also based in Harrow and she will work alongside Vicash Ramkissoon, Zofia Duszynska, Neelam Bangar and Rohena Wallace in leading our Harrow based Immigration team. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Islamic Family Law Specialist Aina Khan awarded OBE (2 January 2018)
With great pleasure we wish to congratulate Aina Khan, Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Islamic Family Law specialist, for her outstanding work which has seen her receive an Order of the British Empire (OBE) award for her service to the protection of women and children in unregistered marriages. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Naim Hasani wins landmark Judgment in The Supreme Court, overruling nullity of British Citizenship for two Albanian Nationals (21 December 2017)
The United Kingdom Supreme Court handed down a very important judgment today, 21st December, allowing the Appeals of Dinjan Hysaj and Agron Bakijasi, Hysaj & Ors, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] UKSC 82, overruling the judgments of the Administrative Court and the Court of Appeal, who had previously ruled that the decisions of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to treat their grant of British citizenship as a nullity, on the basis that it was obtained by means of impersonation was lawful. The consequence of this ruling is that “nullity” principle where a person is not and has never been a British citizen is limited to a small number of cases of impersonation of a real person’s identity. Read more...
Omar & Others vs SSHD - Challenge to the legality of Dublin Significant Risk of Absconding Regulations 2017 (7 December 2017)
The Administrative Court has designated a cohort of six Duncan Lewis cases (Omar & Others) to examine the legality of the Transfer for Determination of an Application for International Protection Regulations 2017 which came into force on the 15th March 2017. The Administrative Court has ordered a rolled-up hearing to take place on the 1st February 2018. Read more...
THE COURT OF APPEAL TO REVIEW THE ROLE OF THE HIGH COURT IN TRAFFICKING CHALLENGES (6 December 2017)
R (BG (ALBANIA)) V SSHD C4/2016/1722 – IN THE COURT OF APPEAL Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors Enjoys Success at the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2017 (6 December 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are excited to announce that we have won the Best Contribution by a Firm with a London Head Office at last night's LawWorks Pro Bono Awards. Our Housing Director Heather Iqbal Rayner and Childcare Director Emine Mehmet were highly commended for the best contribution by an individual and our Cardiff Housing Law team were recognised by LawWorks for their multiple pro bono projects. And last but not least, along with others, our partnership with University of East London and Romford Autism Hub Clinic was also commended. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors has been shortlisted for two awards in Legal 500 UK Awards 2018 (28 November 2017)
Following Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ success in the Legal 500 2017 Edition, which ranked 11 legal departments and saw 34 exceptional lawyers receiving recommendations, we are pleased to announce that the firm has been shortlisted for Legal 500 UK Awards 2018 in two categories. Read more...
Legal 500 Recommended National Law Firm Duncan Lewis Solicitors is pleased to announce its involvement in two excellent charitable schemes: Will Aid and the Amnesty International Will Scheme (28 November 2017)
Under the guidance of the recently appointed Wills and Probate Director, Caroline Roche, Duncan Lewis Solicitors is now one of many firms across the UK taking part in Will Aid a fundraising campaign established by nine UK charities. Read more...
Autumn Budget 2017 – Update for Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Migrants (24 November 2017)
The Chancellor of the Exchequer presented his Autumn Budget to Parliament on the 22nd November 2017. A whole range of announcements were laid out and some of the key summaries can be found here. Read more...
Duncan Lewis’ Harrow based Public Law Team Speak to Students of City University’s Graduate Diploma in Law (22 November 2017)
Last week, on Wednesday 15 November, caseworkers Rachael Lenney, Husein Meghji and Patrick Page from the Duncan Lewis Harrow Public Law Team spoke at City University about their careers in legally aided public law funded. They were joined by Alex Schymyck, who recently left the team to work as a judicial assistant in the Court of Appeal, with a view to pursuing a career at the Bar. All four of them had completed their law conversions at City University. Read more...
Patrick Page Speaking in Parliament (21 November 2017)
Last week, on Monday 13 November, Patrick Page spoke in Parliament on a panel discussing refugee issues from family reunion to integration. The event was organised by the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association (ACAA) as part of Parliament Week 2017. Read more...
Catch Islamic Law specialist Aina Khan on Channel 4 documentary “The Truth About Muslim Marriage” tonight (21 November 2017)
Aina Khan, Islamic Law specialist, will feature in Channel 4 documentary “The Truth About Muslim Marriage” tonight, Tuesday 21st November, at 10pm. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is challenging conditions in Immigration Removal Centre Brook House (16 November 2017)
Duncan Lewis’ Public Law team in Harrow are representing five detainees who have lodged a wide-ranging challenge at the High Court to the lock-in regime and living conditions at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). The G4S-run detention centre, near Gatwick Airport, was recently the subject of a BBC Panorama documentary showing undercover footage of violent verbal and physical abuse by officers towards detainees. Read more...
Sheroy Zaq talks on the Voice of Islam’s Breakfast Show about the detention and forced removal of EU citizens following Brexit (14 November 2017)
Sheroy Zaq, Public Law and Immigration solicitor at Duncan Lewis, was invited to talk on the Voice of Islam’s Breakfast Show on the 2nd November about the way that the UK government are serving decisions to detain individual EU nationals by working alongside the police and homeless charities to target those EU nationals that they suspect to be sleeping rough. Read more...
Legal 500 Recommended National Law Firm Duncan Lewis Hires New Wills and Probate Director Caroline Roche (10 November 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is delighted to announce the hiring of Wills and Probate Director and Solicitor, Caroline Roche. Caroline will be based in the company’s Harrow office and will be spearheading the Wills and Probate department UK-wide, as Duncan Lewis seeks to expand its services in this area. She will also contribute to the firm’s Clinical Negligence and Road Traffic Law services. Read more...
Flat Tyres and a Rolex: Toufique and Paddy in Uganda (7 November 2017)
Banana-stalls, cement stores and carpentry-workshops blurred passed us, the diesel engine gurgled over gently, and the soft warm air breezed through the wide-open windows, caressing us into a tropical torpor. Eager to take it all in, we were struggling to fight back the sleep denied us by the all-night flight (why rest when “The Wedding-Crashers” and “The 40 Year Old Virgin” feature in the in-flight entertainment?) Read more...
Working in the UK after your studies - University of Birmingham presentation (7 November 2017)
Shyam Dhir and Roshni Jobanputra recently attended the University of Birmingham where they were invited to host a presentation to international students for immigration options after they graduate. Read more...
Duncan Lewis shortlisted for LawWorks 2017 Annual Pro Bono Awards (6 November 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are excited to announce that we have been shortlisted for four awards at the LawWorks 2017 Annual Pro Bono Awards. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors achieves excellent nationwide Chambers & Partners 2018 recognition (3 November 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are pleased to announce excellent results in the Chambers & Partners 2018 legal guide with the firm receiving departmental ranking and recognitions as well as 3 Solicitors receiving “Leading Individual” status and another noted as a “Recognised Practitioner”. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Immigration & Public Law Solicitor Krisha Prathepan is awarded the Society of Asian Lawyers’ Prestigious Civil Lawyer of the Year Award (30 October 2017)
Legal 500 “Top Tier” firm Duncan Lewis Solicitors are extremely proud to announce that Immigration & Public Law Solicitor Krisha Prathepan received the Society of Asian Lawyers’ Prestigious Civil Lawyer of the Year Award on Saturday, 28th October 2017. Read more...
Victims of realpolitik: how the truth about refugees in Uganda is being suppressed (30 October 2017)
“Look!” interjected an old man, jerking up a shirtsleeve to reveal his emaciated forearm, his jaundiced eyes smouldered under a black fedora, “in Congo I was strong, now I’m a skeleton.” Read more...
Lewis Kett Speaking at Conference on ‘Strategic Litigation: Anti-Racism in the Courtroom’ (27 October 2017)
‘Immigration detention in the U.K. is bound up with questions of race.' This is how Lewis Kett, a supervising solicitor in the Harrow Public Law Team, introduced his talk on strategic litigation to challenge structural racism on 18th October. Read more...
Duncan Lewis to assist in new Legal Clinic at King’s College London (20 October 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is proud to announce its involvement in King’s College London’s (KCL) Legal Clinic. The firm will be offering regular free immigration and asylum advice at the KCL, which is located on the Strand, offering assistance and support to law students at KCL in advising clients in need of specialist immigration advice. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Enjoys Success at Law Society Excellence Awards 2017 as Ahmed Aydeed Shines (20 October 2017)
We are delighted to announce that 4 of Duncan Lewis’s leading solicitors were recognised for their hard work in the past year at the annual Law Society Excellence awards, with Public Law Director Ahmed Aydeed taking home the gold as the 2017 Junior Lawyer of the Year. Read more...
Toufique Hossain recognised as Lawyer of the week in The Times (19 October 2017)
Toufique Hossain, Director of Immigration and Public Law at Duncan Lewis, is featured as lawyer of the week in The Times. Read more...
Duncan Lewis involved in successful High Court Challenge to Home Office Policy on Detention of Victims of Torture (11 October 2017)
In a judgment handed down on the 10th October 2017, the Home Office was told that its policy regarding how it defines those who have suffered torture is unlawful, for the purposes of identifying those who are vulnerable and at risk in detention. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors achieves excellent nationwide Legal 500 recognition with 2 Top Tier and 11 legal practice areas across the UK ranked (11 October 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are proud to announce outstanding recognition in the Legal 500 2017 Edition which sees 11 legal departments nationwide and an exceptional 34 lawyers receiving recommendations. Read more...
Duncan Lewis wins in two categories in the Lex 100 annual awards (6 October 2017)
Lex 100 has undertaken its annual trainee survey, finding Duncan Lewis worthy of winning two categories in UK law firm training contracts. Read more...
Duncan Lewis collaborates with the University of East London at Romford Autism Hub (27 September 2017)
Duncan Lewis’ Family and Childcare Director, Emine Mehmet, will be providing free legal advice sessions at the Romford Autism Hub from 11th October. These sessions are run by charity Sycamore Trust UK and the University of East London (UEL). Read more...
Duncan Lewis is shortlisted for 8 awards at the Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2017 (7 September 2017)
We are very pleased to announce that Duncan Lewis has been shortlisted for 8 awards at the Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2017! Read more...
Duncan Lewis Family Solicitors Shortlisted for Jordan’s Family Law Awards 2017 (6 September 2017)
Legal 500 “top-tier” firm Duncan Lewis Solicitors have been shortlisted for the Family Law London Firm of the Year in the 2017 edition of the prestigious Jordan’s Family Law Awards. Read more...
Tier 1 – The ‘Genuine Entrepreneur’ Test (25 August 2017)
Entrepreneurs are usually in a league of their own. Admirably so, as they show capacity and willingness to develop and manage a business venture along with any of its risks to make a profit. Talent and drive has led to the success of many notable entrepreneurs: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, JP Morgan and Coco Chanel, just to name a few Read more...
A bottle of sand from Jordan (21 August 2017)
‘Do I need to sell my bracelets?’ asked Sham at our first meeting. ‘I have been selling all my jewellery bit by bit to support my family since we left Syria. These are all I have left. Shall I sell them to pay your fee?’ Read more...
High Court rules detention of torture victim in Detained Fast Track unlawful (21 August 2017)
The High Court has ruled, in YA v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWHC 2135, that it was unlawful for the Home Office to detain YA, a torture victim who provided indicators of vulnerability, including a letter from the Helen Bamber Foundation that stated the detainee’s case merited further clinical investigation Read more...
Legal 500 recommended National Law Firm, Duncan Lewis, appoints Manjinder Kaur Atwal and Sheena Donlon as Directors (18 August 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are pleased to announce the recent internal appointments of Manjinder Kaur Atwal as Director of Housing and Sheena Donlon as Director of Family & Childcare Read more...
Legal 500 recommended National Law Firm, Duncan Lewis, hires solicitor Adrian Smith to provide new Housing services in Luton and Milton Keynes (18 August 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are pleased to announce the recent hiring of Housing and Property Litigation solicitor, Adrian Smith. Adrian will be based in the company’s Luton office and will also provide housing services in Milton Keynes Read more...
The forgotten: Legal Limbo Faced by Asylum Seekers requiring Mental Health support (17 August 2017)
Many migrants with no status that have fled their country of origin due to torture, violence and/or the fear of persecution will escape to countries which are globally perceived as havens of justice, equality and liberty Read more...
Breaking the Barriers – A progressive Judiciary (17 August 2017)
Any practitioner of Law will have, undoubtedly, encountered a Client (or two…) who feels the Judiciary is simply not representative of them; disconnected. Arguably, there are many contributory factors – whether it’s the use of Latin terminology in Court Proceedings, the garb adopted by Counsel and the Judiciary in Criminal matters or the domination of the bench by white privately educated males Read more...
Employment tribunal classes bicycle courier as a ‘worker’ in latest decision on “gig economy” employment rights (9 August 2017)
The London Central Employment Tribunal has ruled that a former bike courier of Addison Lee was a ‘worker’ not an “independent contractor” and therefore was entitled to employment rights that were not afforded to him, such as holiday pay and the national minimum wage Read more...
Case Comment – N v ACCG (2017) (4 August 2017)
The Supreme Court handed down judgment in N v ACCG on 22 March 2017, unanimously rejecting an appeal brought by MN’s parents. The principal issues that the Court had to consider can be illustrated by asking this question: what should the Court of Protection do if a party to the case wishes to pursue a best interest option that a public body will not fund? Read more...
Duncan Lewis is shortlisted for 7 awards at The Law Society Excellence Awards 2017 (4 August 2017)
We are very pleased to announce that Duncan Lewis has been shortlisted for 7 awards at The Law Society Excellence Awards 2017! The Law Society’s Excellence Awards annual ceremony is committed to celebrating excellence across all disciplines in the legal profession and is designed to reward outstanding contributions to the industry Read more...
The Plight of the Hungarian Roma (4 August 2017)
I recently assisted a Hungarian Roma (gypsy) in his immigration appeal against the Secretary of State’s decision to remove him to Hungary on the basis of his Article 3 ECHR grounds. Initially I couldn’t fathom that the treatment of Roma people in my home country of Hungary, an EU country, could be so bad. However, after my client’s flight was stopped, I felt a sudden curiosity to explore the plight of the Hungarian gypsies and the type of discrimination they are subject to on a daily basis Read more...
Duncan Lewis Statement: Unauthorised Segregation in Immigration Detention found to breach Article 8 ECHR (2 August 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is pleased to announce that the High Court has handed down a ruling finding that the segregation of their client at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) was unlawful and in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors continues to embrace its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (2 August 2017) (2 August 2017)
With 63% of the workforce being female, 14% over the age of 45 years, 38% from an Asian/Asian British background and 20% from other ethnic minority groups*, Duncan Lewis is a national law firm which continues to embraces its equality, diversity and inclusion Read more...
Internal seminar by 7 Bedford Row Chambers (27 July 2017)
On the 5th July the Public Law & Immigration teams at Duncan Lewis Solicitors welcomed speakers Mr Clayton QC (Deputy High Court Judge), Mr Tim Meakin and Mr Chris Canning to the Harrow Office Read more...
Rubin Italia interviewed by LBC Radio (20 July 2017)
Rubin Italia was interviewed by LBC Radio to discuss the extension of the legal scheme under which anyone can ask for convicted criminals sentences to be extended. As it stands the current scheme allows these requests to be made for criminals who have been convicted of crimes such as sexual offences, robbery and crimes involving fire arms. However, it is being extended to terrorist related offences Read more...
Manjinder Kaur Atwal interviewed on TALKRadio (12 July 2017)
Manjinder, of Harrow’s Housing Department, was interviewed on TALKRAdio, where she discussed her work with residents of Grenfell Tower Read more...
Phillip Armitage interviewed on LBC Radio (12 July 2017)
Phillip Armitage was recently interviewed by Nick Ferrari on LBC Radio about the £1 an hour wages in immigration detention centres shortly after Baroness Williams defended the work as "entirely voluntary" Read more...
Naim Hasani’s presentation at UCL Conference (12 July 2017)
Naim Hasani, immigration and public law consultant solicitor with Duncan Lewis Solicitors, participated at a conference on Albanian asylum seekers on Tuesday 6 June 2017. The conference, ‘Walking a tightrope’: Exploring hidden issues, challenges and complexities surrounding the protection needs of unaccompanied minors from Albania living in the United Kingdom, took place at University College London Read more...
Duncan Lewis appoints Ahmed Aydeed as Director of Public Law (12 July 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is very pleased to announce the recent internal appointment of Ahmed Aydeed as Director of Public Law. He will oversee the company’s Public Law Judicial Review Claimant practice in Birmingham, Leicester & Milton Keynes Read more...
“You could go to jail if you don’t answer my questions!” – Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is real and its effects are staggering (11 July 2017)
Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is a breathtakingly broad and intrusive power to stop, search and hold individuals at sea and, airports and international rail stations Read more...
Duncan Lewis send lawyers to the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Uganda (11 July 2017)
This July, Duncan Lewis Solicitors are sending Toufique Hossain, Director of Public Law, and Patrick Page, a caseworker in that department, to work in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement of central Uganda Read more...
The Jungle: A Reflection. (11 July 2017)
In October 2016, I travelled on two occasions to the Refugee Camp in Calais, known as the ‘Jungle’ with my colleagues. The camp was due to be destroyed imminently in a collaborative effort between the French and British governments. This destruction left thousands of asylum seekers who dreamed of seeking refuge in the United Kingdom homeless and in limbo Read more...
London – The Divorce Capital Haven (11 July 2017)
London has developed a reputation of being the global capital for “divorce tourism”. It has previously been reported by The Times that one sixth of all divorce cases, and around half of the ‘big money’ cases, heard by Family Courts in London involved international couples Read more...
Athens - May 2017 (11 July 2017)
Sondos Arafa spent a week in Athens helping asylum seekers as part of the ILPA (Immigration Practitioners Association) Athens Legal Support project. The project is a pilot scheme aimed at sending volunteer asylum lawyers to Greece to provide legal advice and assistance Read more...
The £1 an hour IRC Challenge (10 July 2017)
We were pleased to see that Baroness Hamwee raised the issue of immigration detainees working for £1 an hour in immigration removal centres (IRCs) in the House of Lords. This follows the recent Guardian article that reported on our group litigation challenging this Read more...
Duncan Lewis sets up Grenfell Tower Pro Bono Clinics (22 June 2017)
Duncan Lewis would like to express their most sincere sympathies to all those who have been affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. As an organisation we have raised funds and also made a significant donation in the form of clothes and other necessities to the victims and their families Read more...
Locum doctors and nurses succeed in overturning unfair tax rule (1 June 2017)
Two unions representing locum doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals have today succeeded in overturning a new tax rule imposed by NHS Improvement (NHSI) that risked thousands of agency workers leaving the NHS Read more...
Public Law director Toufique Hossain is shortlisted for Immigration and Asylum Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (25 May 2017)
Duncan Lewis is pleased to announce that Public Law Director Toufique Hossain has been shortlisted for Immigration and Asylum Lawyer of the Year at the forthcoming Legal Aid Practitioners Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) Awards Read more...
Locked-in Limbo: The Continued Detention of Stateless Persons (24 May 2017)
“The waiting is the worst part of detention. It’s like you don’t have any control any more, you just sit and wait. You wait for someone else to tell who you are and what is your country.” Read more...
Civil Partnerships for all? (9 May 2017)
In February this year, the Court Of Appeal ruled that a heterosexual couple could not enter into a civil partnership instead of a marriage. Recent polling by Populus has found that three in five people in Great Britain believe that civil partnerships should be open to both hetero and homo-sexual couples Read more...
‘Big Little Lies’ and Domestic Abuse (8 May 2017)
Having watched ‘Big Little Lies’ dramatic conclusion, I felt compelled to extol its virtues; this mini-series, written for Sky Atlantic by David E. Kelly, is set in a beautiful coastal town where a murder has taken place. The characters are played by beautiful actors, who all have beautiful children. Most are in couples with successful careers and living in Architect Digest/Grand Designs worthy homes overlooking the ocean Read more...
Duncan Lewis sends team of Solicitors to ILPA Athens Legal Advice (3 May 2017)
A group of solicitors from Duncan Lewis took part in pilot scheme run by the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (IPLA) to help asylum seekers in Greece Read more...
Ahmed Aydeed discusses the issue of people trafficking from Vietnam (Channel News Asia) (2 May 2017)
Ahmed Aydeed was interviewed by Channel News Asia for a special video feature about the plight of the victims who have been trafficked from Vietnam Read more...
Alex Peebles joins Duncan Lewis Solicitors (25 April 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors welcomes solicitor Alex Peebles to the Public Law team Read more...
Gethin Payne discusses theft by finding on ABN Radio (21 April 2017)
Gethin is a solicitor-advocate for Duncan Lewis Solicitors, regularly appearing in Magistrates Courts across the country as an advocate as well as litigating more serious matters. Read more...
Vaginal Mesh Implants: Duncan Lewis Solicitors represent a victim of vaginal mesh implant surgery (21 April 2017)
Over 800 women are taking legal action against the NHS and manufacturers of vaginal mesh implants, including a client represented by Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence Solicitors Read more...
Immigration Asylum Chamber to treat Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ asylum appeal as a Libya Country Guidance case (20 April 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is currently representing a Libyan national in an asylum appeal against a decision by the Secretary of State dated September 2015 for the Home Department to refuse asylum Read more...
Duncan Lewis client has charges of Money Laundering dropped (19 April 2017)
Graeme Rothwell of Duncan Lewis Solicitors represented Karen Taylor, who had been charged with offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2007 – known more commonly as money laundering Read more...
Integrate then Leave: The Precarious Status of Unaccompanied Afghan Asylum Seeking Children in the UK (13 April 2017)
The story is familiar but that does not make it any less shocking. I am speaking with a client who now has the threat of forced removal to Afghanistan hanging over him. He may be in a detention centre, told that he is to be removed in a couple of days. He is terrified that every time he reports, he may be detained. Read more...
Duncan Lewis joins Refugees, Lawyers and Waging Peace in the Play 2 Remember Football Tournament 2017 (7 April 2017)
The first day of April was a beguilingly calm and beautiful spring day, with a warming sun and a fresh breeze, as we assembled on the fields of White City Tiger Turf, a tangled mass of sinewy limbs, chiselled jaw-lines, bulging calf muscles, and heavy brows; the crème de la crème of Duncan Lewis sporting talent Read more...
DUNCAN LEWIS SOLICITORS OFFERING FREE TRAINING SESSIONS – ADVANCE DECISIONS/ COURT OF PROTECTION (7 April 2017)
The Court of Protection is responsible for assisting people that no longer have the mental capacity to make decisions. It is the responsibility of the Court to ensure that vulnerable persons cannot be exploited, and those responsible for their welfare are assisting appropriately Read more...
Patrick Page discusses detention centres in Malta (ABN) (7 April 2017)
Patrick was invited to ABN to discuss the state of detention centres in the most popular arrival destinations for refuges in Europe. Having spent time visiting a detention centre in Malta Patrick focused his discussion on the knowledge he garnered from this Read more...
Have you been subject to a search at the UK Border? It may have been unlawful (31 March 2017)
When entering the UK the UK Border Force retains the right to search persons they deem suspicious or believe to be carrying restricted or prohibited items under section 164 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (CEMA) Read more...
All Hands on Deck: May Calls for Unity after the Triggering of Article 50 (30 March 2017)
‘We are one great union of people and nations with a proud history and a bright future’. So declared Theresa May in her statement to the Commons on Wednesday 29 March, the day the United Kingdom set sail, with the Union Jack flying high, into unchartered seas Read more...
Nicholas Hughes discusses the legal implications of Brexit on ABN Radio (30 March 2017)
Public Law Caseworker Nicholas Hughes was invited to ABN radio to discuss the triggering of Article 50 Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors appoints Rohena Wallace as Director of Public Law & Immigration and Zofia Duszynska as Director of Immigration (30 March 2017)
We are pleased to announce the appointments of Rohena Wallace as Director of Public Law & Immigration and Zofia Duszynska as Director of Immigration Read more...
Lord Dubs meets Dubs 67 child at the Houses of Parliament (24 March 2017)
On 15th March, seven refugee children were invited to Parliament by Citizens UK, where they met their local MPs and Lord Dubs, the man who sponsored a crucial amendment to the Immigration Act 2016 that allowed for the safe passage of unaccompanied refugee children to the UK at a time when the European migrant crisis was at its peak Read more...
Patrick Page interviewed on ABN Radio regarding the recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling (24 March 2017)
Patrick Page was recently interviewed on ABN radio alongside Queen Naa Tsotsoo Soyoo discussing the recent ruling from the ECJ stating that it is not unlawful to ban religious, political or philosophical symbols in the workplace where a company wishes to project a neutral image and this 'neutral' image is enshrined in the companies internal rules Read more...
Unlawfully obtained documents; what to do with illegal evidence that proves wrong-doing (23 March 2017)
What can I do if my ex partner is hiding money? This is a question frequently asked of family solicitors. There is a very real fear from many parties to divorce, particularly those in a weaker financial position, that the other party is hiding a large proportion of their assets and failing to disclose this to the court Read more...
Zofia Duszynska celebrates International Women’s Day (23 March 2017)
On Tuesday 7 March Zofia was delighted to be invited by Norton Rose Fulbright to join a panel discussing the distinct issues facing women and child refugees Read more...
Public Law and Immigration Solicitor Eleri Haf Davies is shortlisted for “Rising Star” at the forthcoming Solicitors Journal Awards 2017 (23 March 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is pleased to announce that Cardiff based newly qualified Public Law & Immigration Solicitor Eleri Haf Davies is one of five individuals nationwide shortlisted for the Solicitors Journal “Rising Star” Award 2017 Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors shortlisted for 4 Solicitors Journal Awards (23 March 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is pleased to announce that the firm has made the shortlist for four out of the fifteen categories for the Solicitors Journal Awards 2017 Read more...
Rubin Italia discusses new mobile phone driving penalties (ABN Radio) (15 March 2017)
Rubin was invited on to ABN to clarify the changes in legislation regrading drivers using their mobile phones. He clarified that it is not the law that had changed, but the punishment for breaking said laws have become more severe Read more...
Tumaco: Colombia's forgotten territory (14 March 2017)
Public Law Solicitor Eleri Haf Davies was invited by Colombia Caravana, a human rights activist group, to form part of a delegation determined to unearth the interlocking socio-economic and political web that has allowed this part of the world to fall to the hands of warring paramilitary forces Read more...
The Punishment Room: Challenging the Abusive Use of Segregation in Immigration Detention (13 March 2017)
Pamela* had just had a shower and was still in her underwear, applying moisturiser, when the immigration officers came into her room to remove her from the UK. Our client refused to be taken to the airport, as she still had an outstanding application for leave to remain in the UK, so the officers tried to remove her by force, one grabbed her neck and head, pushing these down towards her chest and blocking her windpipe. ‘I was filled with fear and tried to get out of her grip,’ Pamela told us, ‘I kept telling her “I cannot breathe” but she continued to push my head towards my chest. Eventually I stopped trying to get out of her grip and fell to the floor’ Read more...
Merton Compliant Age Assessments (10 March 2017)
When an unaccompanied minor child enters the UK seeking asylum, some would have their age disputed by the authorities, and would have to be subject to an age assessment by the relevant Local Authorities. Normally, such referrals would be made by the Home Office before any decision can be taken on the asylum claims Read more...
Supreme Court grants permission to appeal in Nationality Appeals (7 March 2017)
On 27th February 2017 two clients of Duncan Lewis Immigration Consultant Solicitor Naim Hasani were granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in three linked nationality cases. This matter looks to clarify when it is appropriate to deprive an individual of British nationality or treat the citizenship claim as a nullity, in cases where the individual has obtained citizenship by way of impersonation, fraud and/or concealment of a material fact. The cases are lined up to set a precedent for future decisions regarding nationality claims via naturalization as a result of false representations Read more...
Can my ex-partner refuse to sign the divorce petition? Can they prevent the divorce from taking place? (3 March 2017)
This is a fear for many people seeking a divorce. In a recent case, widely publicised in the national press, Tini Owens attempted to divorce her husband and has been told by the court that she cannot. Read more...
Ahmed Aydeed discusses the Dubs Amendment on ABN Radio (20 February 2017)
The Dubs Amendment, named after its key proponent Lord Dubs who was rescued, via the kindertransport network, from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia when he was six, legislated that the government would have to ‘make arrangements to relocate to the United Kingdom and support a specified number of unaccompanied refugee child from other countries in Europe’ Read more...
‘REJECT-NO FAM’: our fight for the abandoned children of Calais (20 February 2017)
The Calais ‘Jungle’ in early October 2016 was tense and dangerous. As Dan Tucker from Social Workers Without Borders (SWWB) put it, ‘the most creative of poets could not encapsulate the frustration and prolonged misery of that place’. The French authorities had announced their intention to destroy the camp, but none of the residents knew when this was due to happen, or where they would go. Read more...
Vinita Templeton is invited to discuss the position of client Bashir Naderi’s current legal battle on BBC Radio Wales on Friday 27th of January (31 January 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ Cardiff Immigration team, headed by Director of Immigration, Vinita Templeton, discloses position of client Bashir Naderi’s current legal battle Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors opens new offices in Luton and Swansea (31 January 2017)
Legal 500 leading law firm Duncan Lewis Solicitors is pleased to announce the opening of its new office in Swansea, Wales offering legal services in matters pertaining to Immigration; Public Law; Family & Childcare; Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury. Duncan Lewis is also pleased to announce the opening of its new office in Luton, Bedfordshire on 30th January 2017 headed up by Director of Public Law Bahar Ata and Director of Childcare Krina Parmar. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors' Syed Talha Rafique receives award for Services to Law at the 5th Annual British Muslim Awards (27 January 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors is proud to announce that Syed Talha Rafique is the winner of the British Muslim Award’s Services to Law Award. Presented by Al Rayan Bank on 25th January 2017 at the Athena in Leicester, these awards aim to acknowledge and honour the achievements of British Muslims throughout the country across various different aspects of society, such as business, charity, sport, arts and culture. Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors Family & Child Care Solicitor Jaswinder Kalsi is named one of The Sikh Network’s 350 SIKH WOMEN (26 January 2017)
Jaswinder Kalsi, a Solicitor with Duncan Lewis & Co Solicitors has been named on a list compiled by The Sikh Network of 350 Sikh Women to celebrate 350th birthday of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji – who formed the concept of baptised Sikhs. It aims to raise the profile of contribution of Sikh Women in history. Read more...
James Packer was invited on ABN Radio to discuss the Supreme Court ruling on Article 50 (26 January 2017)
James Packer appeared on ABN radio to comment on the legal and political implications, of the Supreme Court ruling which rejected the Government’s appeal in the Miller Case (the Brexit appeal). Read more...
Duncan Lewis Solicitors appoints Bahar Ata as Director of Public Law & Immigration for Luton Office (19 January 2017)
Legal 500 “Leading Law Firm” Duncan Lewis are pleased to announce the appointment of Bahar Ata as Director of Public Law & Immigration for our Luton Office. Read more...
Regina v K: Duncan Lewis Solicitors Successfully Invoke the Abuse of Process Jurisdiction to Stay Proceedings (18 January 2017)
Duncan Lewis Solicitors recently acted in Regina v K, at St Albans Crown Court, in which the exceptional abuse of process jurisdiction was invoked to stay proceedings. The case involved allegations of historic sexual abuse between two half-brothers that were the subject of a police investigation in 2007. Originally, the investigation had concluded and a social services disposal followed, when both of the parties were young children, aged 12 and 9 years old respectively. Read more...